Topic 1 Flashcards
what does the US constitution do
> sets out the structure of the government including roles of diff branches
sets out the role of state govs.
sets out the rights of individuals
what is the US constitution
> sovereign document
written in 1787
creates federal system of government and the separation of powers
What is federalism
> federal system of government
power divided between central gov. and state gov.
state gov. can make its own laws and rights but as to give up some of their powers to central gov.
how many states were there in 1890
44
what are the three different branches of the federal government
Executive- policy making and president
Legislature- framing and passing laws- congress
Judiciary- courts and judges and Supreme court
outline the Executive
> veto laws passed by congress
make federal appointments e.g. Secretary of State
Commander in Chief of Army
takes key foreign policy decisions, e.g. treaties, with backing of senate
initiate legislative programmes aimed at domestic affairs
Presidents 1890-1945
> chosen every 4 years
by electoral college at fixed term elections
no constitutional limit
3 died-> replaced by v-ps
wars, economic problems, social division and inequality
Outline the Legislature
> congress is bicameral legislature of USA -> Senate and House of Reps.
Senate- 100 members elected every 6 yrs
HofR -> 435 members elected every 2 years
override president with 2/3 majority
impeach president if needed
Outline the Judiciary
> Supreme Court
Senior Judges (9) elected by president
strike laws if they feel they go against constitution.
Outline the two political parties in USA
Republicans
> Big Business
> Laissez-faire
> North support
Democrats
> Gov. intervention for less well off
> less urbanized south
Outline the parties economic policies
Republicans
>Gold Standard -> BB, rich farmers and urban workers liked
> Laissez- faire (e.g. tax) and high tarriffs
> BB gave $3.5 mill to Mckinley
Democrats
> free coinage of silver -> poor farmers and rural areas
> lower tarriffs = cheaper goods
Outline the parties foreign policies
Republicans
> expansionist as believed it would bring economic benefits
Democrats
> anti-imperialist policy (won in 1916 as anti-war stance)
outline electioneering
> campaigne and fundraising during election
Mark Hanna- focused on marginal districts (sent 1500 speakers), spent $10,000 ow money on Mck. sent letters (250m. pieces of literature), raised $16m. attacked byran ‘front porch’ campaigne.
Outline candidate profiles and the electoral college
> Mck. and Roosevelt war heros
> backing from North meant more votes for Rep.
Mck. NY highest electoral college vote (36) and Pennsylvania (32)
outline Byrans tactics in 1896 election
> travelled 28,000km giving 600 speeches
why was the 1896 seen as the 1st election
> started ear of Rep. dominance
caused divide in democrat party
end of 3rd party movement (populist)
start of modern campaigning techniques
outline the mood and circumstances (pres. elections)
> big impact on election
Mck. for Cubans due to Spanish involvment
Wilsons idealism and anti-war
Hardings Normalcy
Before the civil war (1861-65) where did most immagrants come from
> GB, Ir, G+ Scandinavia
from 1880 where did most immigrants come from
> A-H, It + R
> 1890’s around 4m.
what was the economic impact of immigration
> provided entrepreneurs e.g Carnegie (Scotland) and J. Pulitzer (Hungary)
cheap labour
poor education and little money = exploited, low wages and poor condition + boss and padrone systems
broke strikes e.g. Pennsylvania- Slavic miners brought in
accused of taking jobs - C-It employed in subway systems
what was the political impact of immigration
> APA, KKK, Immagration Restriction League
Tammany Hall- political org. help seek accomadation and work in return for Democrat vote. Richard Croker boss - secured Robert Van Dyke as mayor of NY.
accused of having extremist views- Emma Goldberg seen as anarchist
What was the social impact of immigration
> overcrowded slums
Temperance movments blamed them for alcohol
high crime
Gangs
1891 Immigration Act tried to prevent diease but TB and Cholera outbreaks were frequent.
brought diversity of culture and religion
how many people moved to Am. 1866-1915
25m.
how many imm. in 1882
789,000
> 50+% GB and G
> 32,000 It
> 17,000 R
how many imm. in 1907
Peak year
1.7m.
> 11x more It + R
> less 1/2 GB and F
by how much did NY pop. increase
1860- 806,000
1900- 3.5m.
how many Jews were there in NY
> 1870- 80,000
> 1915- 1.5m
what were the push factors for immigration
> persecution
lack of opp. @ home -> fruit market in It collapse and currant market in Greece
disease
military service
pull factors for immigration
> economic opp. -> gold rush, land
jobs
American dream
pre-paid passage -> 1901 40-60% travell paid by employers
Why was the rise of BB and its impact on the economy aided by raw materials and infrastructure
> abundance of raw materials
agricultural land provided food needed to sustain pop. and sell overseas
discovery of oilfields e.g. Spindletop in Texas 1901 and anthracite coalfields in Pennsylvania crucial to expansion and mass production of steel
increase of railroads under Vanderbilt created transport and new markets
how did the production of coal and iron ore increase
1890- 1913
> coal increased by 375m.t
>Iron ore - 22m.t
Why was the rise of BB and its impact on the economy aided by innovations
> Bessemer process (Carnagie) alowed for production of cheaper steel
electricity allowed Edison and Telsa to invent
Mass production - H.Ford 1895 4 cars/ 1917 5m.